First aid

Remember first aid is generally required in an emergency situation. Ensure you know who your local first aid personnel are and how to contact them. First aid assistance is also available from the control hub by contacting 01484 472222 or using a red emergency telephone.

Current first aid personnel

Please contact your Area Health and Safety Coordinator or Dean or Director for the current list of first aiders for your School or Service.

Roles of first aid personnel

The principal roles are:

• Take charge of the incident they are called to.
• Provide immediate treatment to the casualty.
• Provide continuing care to the casualty until they fully recover or the emergency services arrive.

First aid personnel are also responsible for ensuring the first aid signs in their area are up to date. 

Summoning emergency assistance and calling for an ambulance

If there is any doubt as to the seriousness of someone’s injury or ill-health an ambulance must be called for immediately.

Contacting the emergency services is by 9999 on an internal telephone or 999 on a mobile telephone.

Where an internal or mobile telephone is not immediately to hand or others who could assist, the injured or unwell person should be left in order to summon help.

When making contact with the emergency services, utilising the 'what3words' app can assist in confirming the location where the ambulance needs to go to. It is also important to notify the control hub where an ambulance has been called to assist in it accessing the specific building or area on campus.

Further medical assistance but no ambulance is required

First aid personnel may advise the injured or unwell person that further medical assessment or treatment direct from campus is appropriate however the requesting of an ambulance is not. The following link provides the protocol in such instances.

Principles for administering emergency medication

De-fibrillators

These can be found in the following locations on campus:

• The control hub and university’s main reception at the front of Harold Wilson Building
• Main entrance and exit foyer of Haslett Building
• The library’s main help centre on level 4 of Schwann Building
• International Study Centre, Level 14 of Schwann Building
• Team Hud reception on level 3 of Student Central
• Barbara Hepworth Floor 1
• Jo Cox More in Common Centre
• Main reception at Daphne Steele Building
• Reception in 3M Buckley Innovation Centre

Here is the link to a map of the campus showing these locations. Security will also be able to advise where the nearest defibrillator is located.

Public Access Trauma Kits

The University has introduced Public Access Trauma (PAcT) first aid kits on campus.  These kits are for use by any person irrespective of any first aid training as part of enhancing responses where an individual has life threatening injuries.  

Here is a link to further information on the national initiative to increase accessibility for such kits.

The kits are located at:-

• Harold Wilson building - Security Control Hub
• 3M Bic – Reception ground floor
• Student Central – I-Point
• Schwann Building - Library Wardens Desk, Level 4 and Holocaust Centre, Level 2
• Atkinson Holt building – Ground floor
• Toast House
• Daphne Steele building - main reception

Here is a campus map showing their locations along with locations of defibrillators.

These kits are separate to those provided under the First Aid at Work Regulations and should never be used for general First Aid purposes. 

The contents include:-

4 x Pairs of disposable gloves

2 x Disposable glasses

2 x disposable face masks

2 x Tuff cut scissors

4 x Large trauma wound dressings

2 x Woven triangular bandages

2 x Tourniquet or Tourni-key

2 x CPR face shield

2 x Indelible marker pen

2 x PAcT First Aid kit guidance cards (including text and imagery from St John Ambulance)

The Office of Health and Safety will carry out periodic checks of the kits.

Assessing first aid provision

The First Aid at Work Regulations place a duty on the University to ensure it provides an adequate number of qualified first aid personnel and access to first aid equipment and facilities in relation to the activities and locations under its control.

This duty relates to those at work. The regulations do not require provision for non-employees however the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends they are considered in assessments which the university does (e.g. students, researchers, visitors)

The following factors are taken into account when determining the necessary first aid provision: -

• The types of activities taking place and the injuries or ill health conditions these most likely present;
• The numbers of people involved or affected by these activities;
• Times when these activities are taking place and the availability of people to provide first aid assistance; and
• Both time and location proximity to people able to provide first aid assistance and to the emergency services.

The HSE’s provides a first aid assessment tool.

Reporting first aid treatment rendered

The University’s Incident reporting system is the method for recording when first aid treatment has been rendered, by who, what treatment rendered or advice provided, and the reason for the treatment or advice being given.

Hepatitis B vaccinations

University first aid personnel are entitled to request a course of Hepaitis B vaccinations.

The course is organised through and delivered by the university's Occupational Health Department.

There is no charge to the individual.

To arrange, or for further enquiries, please contact the Occupational Health Department.

Becoming a first-aider

Approval

Where a first aid provision need is identified along with the individual willing to undertake the role, the Office of Health and Safety should be notified at its general email address. Information will then be provided on how to arrange the training direct with the training providers.

Any member of staff joining the University and still holding a valid first aid at work qualification should contact the OHS.

First aid training

To become qualified in first aid at work requires attendance on a 3-day training course concluding with successful completion of both a short theory and a practical exam. The OHS will provide details of training providers and how to book onto the courses. The resultant certificate is valid for 3 years.

In order to maintain their first aid at work qualification individuals are required to successfully complete a 2-day refresher training course. OHS will notify individuals at least two months ahead of their current certificate expiring, providing details of training providers and how to book the training to enable the refresher training takes place ahead of the certificate’s expiry date.

Should an individual’s first aid at work qualification lapse (i.e. not successfully complete the 2-day refresher training course before expiration of their current certificate) but they wish to continue as a first-aider, they will be required to successfully complete the 3-day training course again in order to re-qualify.

Should an individual wish to no longer continue their first aid at work role they must notify their line manager and OHS as soon as possible.

Additional first aid training and awareness opportunities

During the periods between qualification and refresher training OHS will look to provide additional training and awareness to support first aid personnel in their role where relevant and appropriate.

OHS will also coordinate opportunities for first-aiders to share experiences etc. through collective discussion, either periodically or where specific situations warrant.

First aid box contents and maintaining levels

There is a useful guide provided to help match this risk assessment to an appropriate size kit.

First aid kit contents  

Based on local assessments additional contents may be deemed appropriate.  Tablets and medicines must not form part of the contents of a first aid box. 

First aid personnel take responsibility for ensuring first aid boxes are sufficiently stocked and items remain in date.  Items can be purchased locally or online by each school/service.